Showing functions form a basis

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Show that the functions po(t)=1, p1(t)=t, p2(t)=1/2(3t2-1), and p3(t)=(3/2)*[(5/3)t3-t) also form a basis for the vector space P3(R) ... "R" meaning all real numbers

2. Relevant equations

I know these polynomials are the first four Legendre polynomials

3. The attempt at a solution

I know that proving functions form a basis involves proving that each funciton has a unique representation as a linear combination... I'm not certain on what this means exactly but I'm trying my best to figure it out... heres my work so far on the problem

I know that proving functions form a basis involves proving that each funciton has a unique representation as a linear combination... I'm not certain on what this means exactly but I'm trying my best to figure it out... heres my work so far on the problem

a(1) + b(t) + c/2(3t2-1) + d/2(5t3-3t) = a + bt + ct2 + dt3

To show linear independence, you want to set the righthand side to zero and show that requires a=b=c=d=0.

You also need to show the four polynomials span P3(R). This time, you want the righthand side to be an arbitrary 3rd-degree polynomial -- so don't use a, b, c, and d that appear on the lefthand side on the righthand side -- and show you can solve for a, b, c, and d.

Ok, so you want to show a+b*t+c*t^2+d*t^3 has a unique representation of the form A*p0(t)+B*p1(t)+C*p2(t)+D*p3(t). That means you just want to find A, B, C, and D in terms of a, b, c and d, right? You really don't have to put t values in. You know a+b*t+c*t^2+d*t^3=a'+b'*t+c'*t^2+d'*t^3 only if a=a', b=b', c=c' and d=d', yes? So just start at the top. What is the relation between d and D?

Since [itex]\{ 1, x, x^2\}[/itex] form a basis for P3, you know that it has dimension 3. That, in turn, tells you that any independent set of three functions will be a basis. After you have shown that the given functions are independent, you don't have to show that they span the space.